Thursday, September 11, 2008

Upcoming Hiking Programs in the Smokies

There are a handful of special programs coming up in the Smoky Mountains that hikers might be interested in. Over the next several weeks the park will be sponsoring several scheduled hikes which will be guided by park rangers. All hikes are free to the public.

On September 15, and then again on October 14, there will be a Full Moon Hike in Cades Cove. Both hikes begin at 7:00 p.m. from the Orientation Shelter at the beginning of the Cades Cove Loop Road.

As part of the 75th anniversary celebration of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) this year, in which the park is honoring the achievements of the CCC, there will be two ranger lead hikes. On Friday, September 26, there will be a hike up the Kephart Prong Trail. This hike begins at 10:00 a.m. The next day, on September 27, there will be a hike along the Old Sugarlands Trail. This hike will begin at 1:00 p.m.

On Saturday, October 4, there will be hike into the Little Cataloochee Valley to discover the rich history of the area. This hike begins at 10:00 a.m.

For more information on each of these hikes, please click on the park’s events calendar at: